Fruit-gathering ladder



June 22 1926. 1,589,655

' F. w. NELSON FRUIT GATHERING LADDER Filed Sept. 3, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mania WNeZson,

June 22 1926.

1,589,655 w. NELSON FRUIT GATHERING LADDER Filed Sept. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i: ZZZ-E 12X E5551 Z 1!; Ir: :1; i

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Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

FRANK W. NELSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FRUIT-GATHERING LADDER.

Application filed. September This invention relates to ladders, and more particularly to an improvement in ladders of the type particularly adapted for fruit gathering. i

'To that end the invention contemplates a ladder, durable andstable in construction and which may be readily handled in the orchard, and which may be also readily placed between the limbs of the tree to stability of the construction, and at the same time is provided with anupward extension or continuation which permits of the fruit gatherer steadying himself while standing on the topmoststep.

Vith the above and other objects in View which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in whieh- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ladder.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary edge elevation of a platform step used in the ladder structure and attached parts.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As previously indicated it is desirable to have a ladder as light as possible-to facilitate its movement from place to place in the 3, 1924. Serial No. 735,648.

orchard andyet at the same time the light construction must possess adequate stability and strength. i

Therefore, with a view to obtaining the desired lightness "it is proposed to construct the ladder mainly of wood and to that end I provide a novel center rail designated. generally as C and preferably comprising a relatively longnarrow body 1 formed of a plank of wood of suitable lengthand'thickness and having secured to its rear edge 2- a flat reinforcing strip 8, the same being screwed or nailed to the edge 2 for the purpose of stiffening the member 1 against flexibility, and thereby providing in effect a wooden beamof T-shaped cross section. The lower end of this center rail does not extend to the ground but is supported .by a frame designated generally as F. The member 1 is also provided at preferably equi-- distant points with laterally ofi'set-or projecting steps or foot rests designated generally as S and having novel features of construction which will be presently referred to more in detail. 7 1

Referring first'to the frame F itwill be observed that the same preferably consists of the cross bars f and 5, the former being set into a mortise in the exposed edge of the member land secured thereto by suitable fastenings (3, and the cross bar 5 consisting of duplicate bar members 5 and 5 which are set into suitable mortised portions of V the member 1 as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. The outer ends of the members 4, 5 and 5 are connected to the converging leg members 7 and 8 whose lower ends rest upon the ground to thereby support the center rail C while the upper ends thereof are provided with brackets 9 for engaging with the fastening which holds the second step members S to the member 1'. This arrangement provides a thoroughly braced center rail and because of the fact that the members 7 and. 8 extend well up on the center rail, the same is adequately braced against side rocking and gives anyone standing on the ladder a sense of security that would not otherwise be possible if the center of gravity were not lowered, by the arrangement just described.

The steps S are preferably made of blocks of wood 10 and each pair of blocks is connected by a through-bolt 11, the said bolt extending through both of the blocks 10 and also through the web provided by the member 1, thereby securely holding the blocks in place, but to further assist in strengthening the entire structure, the blocks may be also nailed or screwed to the reinforcing strip 3 by the fastenings 12 as shown in Figure 4. The upper surfaces of the blocks 10 are preferably inclined inwardly toward the member 1 so as to prevent foot-slipping, thereby further adding to the sense of security to the fruit gatherer while he is at work on the ladder.

The top of the center rail is extended as indicated at 1 beyond the reinforcing member 3, thereby to provide a steadying post at the top of the ladder so that when the fruit gatherer is on the topmost step of he ladder he will be afforded a convenient handheld thereby to enable him to reach out after fruit without losing his balance.

The third leg of the ladder is designated as T and is pivotally connected to the top step 13 which is in the form of a relatively wide platform as compared with the lower steps S and is notched or recessed as indicated at 14 to receive the upper end of the leg T. As shown in Figure 6 the top step 13 is secured to the center rail C by means of the bolts 15-, thereby making the top step strong and steady while the third leg T is pivotally connected tothe edge of the step 13 by the relatively long bolt 16 which in turn serves to clamp the eyes 17 of the braces 18 to the opposite ends of the step. These braces have their lower ends fastened as at 19 to the shank portion of the third leg T and thereby strengthen and stilien the leg T at its point of connection with the step 13.

From the foregoing it is thought that it will be apparent that the present invention provides a light durable and stable construction that may be readily transported and which may be easily placed between the leads or limbs of the tree without materially interfering with the fruit while at the same time giving the fruit gatherer firm support and enabling him to more expeditiously accomplish his work.

I claim A ladder comprising a centrally disposed rail, a strip applied to the rear edge of the lower portion thereof, said strip having side edge portions which extend beyond the side surfaces of the rail, a platform step mounted 'upon the upper end of the strip and having a recess which receives the rail, a prop leg pivoted to the platform step, a series of steps applied tothe intermediate portions of the rail and the strip, spaced bars applied to the lower end of the rail and at the the opposite sides thereof, one of said bars being secured. to the lower end of the strip, and legmemhers secured at their upper ends to the outer ends of certain of the intermediately located steps and having their intermediate portions disposed between the spaced bars at the ends thereof and secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FRANK NELSON. 

